Except not really. Some of you have the idea that tanking is trading all your players for 2nd rounders and bench warmers. You don't have to have the worst team in the history of the league to tank. You keep the guys who are worth it to keep, and trade the other valuable guys who have no future with you for picks and good young players who can make an impact in the future, just not at that moment.

If we pick a guy who sucks in the top 5, which isn't very likely to happen, we'll still have the same core we have right now, or a similar one with younger guys.

Those who voted playoffs need to take into account what happens if we miss the playoffs, we're 9th place with a shitty pick.

Those who vote tanking need to take into account that there is no way we can outtank Utah, Bucks or Sixers and this team is not bad enough to finish in bottom 5 anyway leaving us with miserable chances getting top 3 pick. After that talent level drops and is not worth throwing season away.

Those who vote tanking need to take into account that there is no way we can outtank Utah, Bucks or Sixers and this team is not bad enough to finish in bottom 5 anyway leaving us with miserable chances getting top 3 pick. After that talent level drops and is not worth throwing season away.

So we'll be fourth in the lotto. And still have a shot at higher. That would be perfectly acceptable.

Those who vote tanking need to take into account that there is no way we can outtank Utah, Bucks or Sixers and this team is not bad enough to finish in bottom 5 anyway leaving us with miserable chances getting top 3 pick. After that talent level drops and is not worth throwing season away.

um, so which are the other 2 teams that will prevent us from landing a top 5 pick?

that'a assuming utah, philly and milwaukee are worse than us, which is far from obvious. In fact, Utah is playing quite well lately and they have more talent than we do imo. Once Sanders returns, assuming he will recover his form, the bucks should make a run + they may try to improve since their owner is against tanking. Philly is the only one that will have it tough, especially once they make their next tanking move.

I think top 3 is very doable, and top 5 is ours for the taking, if we want it. This year we'll get an all star level player with a top 7 pick probably, and a superstar level prospect with a top 3-5. It's that special of a draft (according to draft experts at least - I tend to trust experts in fields I have no opinion, no choice really).

Those who vote tanking need to take into account that there is no way we can outtank Utah, Bucks or Sixers and this team is not bad enough to finish in bottom 5 anyway leaving us with miserable chances getting top 3 pick. After that talent level drops and is not worth throwing season away.

No it doesn't There are at least 7 guys who could go 1st overall any other draft

You guys close your eyes on a players we currently have. DeRozan, Jonas, Amir, Hansborough and Lowry are no quiters, they won't tank. And they are good enough to win enough games to keep us from that top 5 draft position. Hoping that dude like Exum or Smart will make is into contender all of a sudden is ridiculous. Hoping that lottery will smile our way and you leapfrog teams with better odds is quite silly as well.
Lets say Masai trades Lowry and maybe Amir. What you have is DeRozan, JV and Ross with some decent role players. No guarantee that you will even have a chance to draft Wiggins, Parker or Randle. So then what? Season wasted on tanking when there is great chance to make playoffs. Jerry Sloan said once that single playoff series is more valuable for player development then regular season - I would rather have JV and DeRozan experience that than stupid tanking for false hope.

In fact, Utah is playing quite well lately and they have more talent than we do imo.

We crushed them by 30 pts with Gay. It would be even worse now when team is actually sharing the ball. Seriously, what talent they have better then us? Ridiculous. Our starting five is better then theirs and their bench is worst in the league. Only area they can compete is they have similar incompetent coach.

We have agendas? Any of us with any viewpoint? That sounds utterly silly doesn't it? I mean, can you explain to me what the point of having some kind of agenda regarding the Raptors would be? You do know that our views do not impact anything right? I can see a season's ticket holder having a bit of an agenda to see basketball that is not complete garbage and a waste of their money, and I would find it hard to be critical of or condescending towards that. And their viewpoint would have some impact, though not much, but at least a good measure more than some anonymous poster on a message board that feels like they know something and wants to call that an agenda.